1. What are you good at?
I'm good at singing.
2. How do you feel when you're doing the thing you're good at?
When i sing i feel like I'm going to be a star one day.
3. How would you feel if people wouldn't let you do the thing you're good at?
I would feel angry and sad.
Chapter 1
1. What problems or conflicts are presented in chapter one? Tao needing to find a rabbit is an obvious one; identify at least two more.
Another to conflicts are that he has a bad leg and he liked to draw but wasn't allowed to.
2. Predict the resolution of each conflict.
The resolution will probably be that everyone will love Tao once he brings a lot of food.
Chapter 2
What two important events happen in this chapter?
One important event is that he takes out a splinter out of a wolf dog's jaw. And another one is that he has a dream of his mother.
Chapter 3
1. What do Tao and Ram learn to do together?
Tao and Ram learn to hunt together.
2. What decision does Tao tell Volt?
Tao tells Volt that he is going to live in a cave by himself and hunt by himself because he thinks he will have a better life like that.
3. Look at Tao's decisions and actions from Volt's perspective. Pretend you are Volt. Write a first person paragraph explaining how you feel.
I am very mad at Tao because he is running of by himself,how dare he break taboos! He is much too young to hunt and live by himself! Life is dangerous out there, he will die much too quickly.
Chapter 4
In a good paragraph, describe Tao's mother. Start with an interest grabber. Then write your topic sentence. Give three details or examples to support your thesis. Use a quotation from the chapter.
Tao's mother was a very good woman she protected Tao from dangers. She made a lot of beads and necklaces and was a working woman."Again and again they tried to take you away, but she fought like a cave lion, screaming, biting, refusing to give you up." This quote shows how much, Vedra, Tao's mom, cared for him.
Chapter 5
1. Which two animals does Tao try to draw?
Tao tries to draw a horse and Ram.
2. Which is easier for him and why?
Ram is easier for him to draw because he is looking right at Ram with sunlight shining on him.
Chapter 6
1. Graybeard realizes that Tao has broken two taboos of his clan. What are they?
The taboos that Graybeard knows Tao broke are that he hunted with a wolf dog in the Slough.
2. Which taboo doesn't he know about yet?
Graybeard doesn't know that Tao draws without being a choosen one.
3. Graybeard describes Volt differently than we have. What aspects of Volt's character is Graybeard acknowledging?
Graybeard is acknowledging Volt different because Graybeard says the he is a good man,unlike us he
is saying something good about Volt.
.Write your reaction to the last paragraph in the chapter. Do you agree or disagree with Graybeard? Is what he says true for those times, but not now? Or, is the reverse true: was it not true then, but true now? I agree with Graybeard because that was the rule back then and you need to follow the law. Another reason why I agree is because drawing back then was like killing right now because the chosen ones were the only ones who could draw. And right now killing is taboo except for the police because they are allowed.
Chapter 8
An important theme in this novel is that people should follow their dreams and do what they believe is right, even if they don't follow their society's expected ways.
The author examines this theme in a stone age setting. Imagine a similar situation today.
What situation did you imagine?
Another situation I imagine is about how people who are not born in America cannot run for president. I think if someone truly deserves being president that they should have a chance.
In the situation you imagined, should the person follow his or her dreams or should they follow society's rules? Give your opinion.
Well in my opinion i think that they have to follow the rules.
Chapter 9
Why do you think Graybeard changed his mind?
Graybeard probably changed his mind because he saw that Tao was a very nice boy and so he decided to teach Tao how to draw.
What does this tell you about his character?
This shows that Graybeard is a very nice old man.
Chapter 10
1. What are the "mountains-that-walk"?
The "mountains-that-walk" are woolly mammoths.
2. What almost happened to Tao?
Tao almost got trampled over by the woolly mammoths.
Chapter 11
Do you think Graybeard is a good teacher? Why?
I think Graybeard is a good teacher because he is telling Tao what he is doing wrong but when he does something right he tells him he is doing good too.So Graybeard isint critizing him all the time.
Would you like to have been taught a skill by him? Why?
I would like to be taught a skill by him because he is a good teacher.
Chapter 12
1. Name some of the ingredients used to make paint. Which surprised you most?
Some of the ingredients used to make were clay, limestone powder, charcoal dust,blood, fat, honey and many more!All of them surprised me because i didn't know you could make paint with that stuff
2. Why is Tao afraid at the end of the chapter?
Tao is afraid because Graybeard is really old and sick so he can die soon.
Chapter 13
1. Even if Ram had succeeded in hunting the deer, do you think it was a good idea of Tao's to "show off" his dog's ability to hunt? Explain.
I dont think that showing off Rm to Volt and Garth was a bad idea because they could of killed Ram.
2. Predict what will happen next. If you've read ahead, invent an alternate scene.
Maybe Volt and Garth will try to kill Ram because they think he is evil.
Chapter 14
1. Why does Tao cross the river?
Tao crosses the river because he hears Ram is in trouble.
2. What decision does Graybeard reach?
Graybeard decides that Tao can become a cave painter.
Chapter 15
What problem does Tao have by the end of the chapter?
Chapter 16
Look at the website of the Laxcaux Caves: Find a picture that resembles the one Tao is painting. Copy it as your answer to this question.
Chapter 17
Wow! What a chapter! What was your reaction? Tense? Surprised? You predicted it? Write a paragraph describing your reaction.
Yes i know! That was a really surprising chapter! It was sad because Graybeard died,it was a tense moment when Tao was fighting the Saxon,and the best part was when Tao discovered Volt was his father! Whoa.
Chapter 18
Why does Tao feel he needs to go to the Mountain People?
He feels he needs to go to the Mountain People because he is following Graybeard's footsteps and since he is accepted as a cave painter with the Valley People he needs to be accepted as a cave painter with the Mountain People.
1. What are you good at?
I'm good at singing.
2. How do you feel when you're doing the thing you're good at?
When i sing i feel like I'm going to be a star one day.
3. How would you feel if people wouldn't let you do the thing you're good at?
I would feel angry and sad.
Chapter 1
1. What problems or conflicts are presented in chapter one? Tao needing to find a rabbit is an obvious one; identify at least two more.
Another to conflicts are that he has a bad leg and he liked to draw but wasn't allowed to.
2. Predict the resolution of each conflict.
The resolution will probably be that everyone will love Tao once he brings a lot of food.
Chapter 2
What two important events happen in this chapter?
One important event is that he takes out a splinter out of a wolf dog's jaw. And another one is that he has a dream of his mother.
Chapter 3
1. What do Tao and Ram learn to do together?
Tao and Ram learn to hunt together.
2. What decision does Tao tell Volt?
Tao tells Volt that he is going to live in a cave by himself and hunt by himself because he thinks he will have a better life like that.
3. Look at Tao's decisions and actions from Volt's perspective. Pretend you are Volt. Write a first person paragraph explaining how you feel.
I am very mad at Tao because he is running of by himself,how dare he break taboos! He is much too young to hunt and live by himself! Life is dangerous out there, he will die much too quickly.
Chapter 4
In a good paragraph, describe Tao's mother. Start with an interest grabber. Then write your topic sentence. Give three details or examples to support your thesis. Use a quotation from the chapter.
Tao's mother was a very good woman she protected Tao from dangers. She made a lot of beads and necklaces and was a working woman."Again and again they tried to take you away, but she fought like a cave lion, screaming, biting, refusing to give you up." This quote shows how much, Vedra, Tao's mom, cared for him.
Chapter 5
1. Which two animals does Tao try to draw?
Tao tries to draw a horse and Ram.
2. Which is easier for him and why?
Ram is easier for him to draw because he is looking right at Ram with sunlight shining on him.
Chapter 6
1. Graybeard realizes that Tao has broken two taboos of his clan. What are they?
The taboos that Graybeard knows Tao broke are that he hunted with a wolf dog in the Slough.
2. Which taboo doesn't he know about yet?
Graybeard doesn't know that Tao draws without being a choosen one.
3. Graybeard describes Volt differently than we have. What aspects of Volt's character is Graybeard acknowledging?
Graybeard is acknowledging Volt different because Graybeard says the he is a good man,unlike us he
is saying something good about Volt.
.Write your reaction to the last paragraph in the chapter. Do you agree or disagree with Graybeard? Is what he says true for those times, but not now? Or, is the reverse true: was it not true then, but true now? I agree with Graybeard because that was the rule back then and you need to follow the law. Another reason why I agree is because drawing back then was like killing right now because the chosen ones were the only ones who could draw. And right now killing is taboo except for the police because they are allowed.
Chapter 8
An important theme in this novel is that people should follow their dreams and do what they believe is right, even if they don't follow their society's expected ways.
The author examines this theme in a stone age setting. Imagine a similar situation today.
What situation did you imagine?
Another situation I imagine is about how people who are not born in America cannot run for president. I think if someone truly deserves being president that they should have a chance.
In the situation you imagined, should the person follow his or her dreams or should they follow society's rules? Give your opinion.
Well in my opinion i think that they have to follow the rules.
Chapter 9
Why do you think Graybeard changed his mind?
Graybeard probably changed his mind because he saw that Tao was a very nice boy and so he decided to teach Tao how to draw.
What does this tell you about his character?
This shows that Graybeard is a very nice old man.
Chapter 10
1. What are the "mountains-that-walk"?
The "mountains-that-walk" are woolly mammoths.
2. What almost happened to Tao?
Tao almost got trampled over by the woolly mammoths.
Chapter 11
Do you think Graybeard is a good teacher? Why?
I think Graybeard is a good teacher because he is telling Tao what he is doing wrong but when he does something right he tells him he is doing good too.So Graybeard isint critizing him all the time.
Would you like to have been taught a skill by him? Why?
I would like to be taught a skill by him because he is a good teacher.
Chapter 12
1. Name some of the ingredients used to make paint. Which surprised you most?
Some of the ingredients used to make were clay, limestone powder, charcoal dust,blood, fat, honey and many more!All of them surprised me because i didn't know you could make paint with that stuff
2. Why is Tao afraid at the end of the chapter?
Tao is afraid because Graybeard is really old and sick so he can die soon.
Chapter 13
1. Even if Ram had succeeded in hunting the deer, do you think it was a good idea of Tao's to "show off" his dog's ability to hunt? Explain.
I dont think that showing off Rm to Volt and Garth was a bad idea because they could of killed Ram.
2. Predict what will happen next. If you've read ahead, invent an alternate scene.
Maybe Volt and Garth will try to kill Ram because they think he is evil.
Chapter 14
1. Why does Tao cross the river?
Tao crosses the river because he hears Ram is in trouble.
2. What decision does Graybeard reach?
Graybeard decides that Tao can become a cave painter.
Chapter 15
What problem does Tao have by the end of the chapter?
Chapter 16
Look at the website of the Laxcaux Caves: Find a picture that resembles the one Tao is painting. Copy it as your answer to this question.
Chapter 17
Wow! What a chapter! What was your reaction? Tense? Surprised? You predicted it? Write a paragraph describing your reaction.
Yes i know! That was a really surprising chapter! It was sad because Graybeard died,it was a tense moment when Tao was fighting the Saxon,and the best part was when Tao discovered Volt was his father! Whoa.
Chapter 18
Why does Tao feel he needs to go to the Mountain People?
He feels he needs to go to the Mountain People because he is following Graybeard's footsteps and since he is accepted as a cave painter with the Valley People he needs to be accepted as a cave painter with the Mountain People.